Oh crap, we need a Center

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(01-06-2021, 11:59 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: I have seen some rumblings that the two OTs below Sewell, Rashawn Slater and Christian Darrisaw, may be climbing up draft boards into top 10 territory and, from my perspective, if you're good enough for top 10 I don't know how you wouldn't be good enough for top 5. 

Rashawn Slater has had the better career between the two, but he apparently has measurable issues (similar to what Jonah Williams had, to be honest), so I'm curious to see if Darrisaw can vault him and actually enter the conversation at #5.

Regardless of what the rankings are, we definitely need to upgrade at least 2 positions on the Oline, if not 3 (depending on what happens with Hopkins' recovery). If our day 1 Oline is Darrisaw/Slater - Spain/XSF  - Price - FA pick up (Thuney or Scherff ideally) - Williams, I'd be pretty comfortable with that line and especially comfortable once Hopkins comes back. The Bengals have said they plan to address the Oline in free agency, so I'm really hoping they go big at RG and maybe even RT. We'll have to see how things shake out.

If we address the Oline in free agency, that really opens up our options at #5 and we could pursue a TE like Pitts or a CB like Surtain. Maybe an edge rusher like Kwity Paye rises up the draft boards and enters the conversation as well, especially if we don't re-sign Lawson in free agency.

I don't think that guys that suddenly climb the board at the end of the season/after the season is over are very safe #5 picks. I don't dislike the Jonah pick, but if they had picked him 5th overall while Chase/Pitts caliber players were there, I would absolutely hate it. I don't know if I see the super high ceiling in him that I would like from a top-5 pick.

Sometimes I feel some of these late climbers are just being thrown into the conversation because the writers have months of time to fill, and simply agreeing that one guy's way better than others isn't particularly time consuming. Limited amount of words that can be written about that.

Also something just doesn't feel right using the 5th overall pick for the 2nd best player at his position when that position isn't QB.

I'll trust the Bengals addressing the OL in FA when they don't sign 1 career backup (XSF) and call it a day.

I'm fairly against using the 5th overall on defense. No matter who you add on defense, it's going to be a trash defense. Lou is going to make doubly sure of that, even if he had all the players he needed. At least if they add more talent on the offense it can help out Burrow, and that's really the key. Score points and put your QB in a position to succeed, that's the path in today's NFL.